ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 28. Kazakhstan plans to acquire additional locomotives in the near future, Trend reports.
Kazakhstan's Minister of Transport, Marat Karabaev, reported at a government meeting on the ongoing efforts to update the railway rolling stock and wagon fleet.
He stated that the current total number of locomotives is approximately 1800 units, with a wear level of 61 percent.
"To ensure adequate rolling stock and reduce the wear of the fleet, 185 locomotives were purchased this year. Next year, 187 units are planned for acquisition, and in the next three years, an additional 257 locomotives are expected to be delivered. This will fully eliminate the shortage," said Marat Karabaev.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the total number of freight wagons is 139,000 units.
There are more than 300 private operators on the market. Of these, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Kazakhstan Railways) operates 38,000 wagons, which are involved in socially important transportation, namely in the energy sector and the delivery of coal to the population.
The national operator plans to deliver an additional 3000 hopper cars by 2026, 800 of which are already in use this year.
“Special attention is being paid to the passenger wagon fleet. Last year, 118 new wagons were purchased, 143 units this year, and next year, 226 wagons are planned for acquisition,” added Marat Karabaev.
To note, by 2029, Kazakhstan plans to purchase about 1200 passenger wagons, which will bring the total number to over 3000 units and reduce the wear level to 38 percent.